Cyber security has finally joined the top table in New Zealand, with Kiwi directors now acknowledging that business risk dominates board level discussions across the country.

The second biennial Directors’ Risk Survey by Marsh and the Institute of Directors (IoD), designed to gauge directors’ views on a wide range of risk issues, says technological disruption, reputational risk, and the time spent on risk oversight remain a key focus for directors.

As such, up and down the country most directors (56.1 percent) believe risk is increasing in today’s business environment, with 74.5 percent of directors admitting boards are spending more time discussing risk management than they were two years ago.

IoD Chief Executive Simon Arcus says that while times have changed, it is “encouraging” that risk remains a common conversation at the board table.

“Risks change and evolve and the need to stay current is emphasised by this report.

“Technology is an integral part of business capability and boards need to take responsibility to be able to lead in this new era.”

Arcus says technological disruption continues to be a prominent business risk, with cyber-risk emerging as a key external risk for the first time.

Most directors are confident that they could handle a major IT disruption with 90.6 percent saying they have a procedure in place to manage, although just 19.4 percent can manage data loss and even more 35.2 percent are not able to keep up with technological advances.

For Arcus, cybersecurity and digital strategy were on the minds of directors in an “unprecedented way”.

“Most businesses use or rely on technology to operate - cyber risk is a reality of our times - so the ability of boards to consider it as part of enterprise risk is critical in ensuring directors are confident about business resilience,” he adds.

Directors perception of their own personal risks only decreased slightly on 2013 results with reputational risk 61.3 percent (62 percent in 2013), being held personally liable for a legislative breach at 39.2 percent (42 percent in 2013) and loss of personal assess if called to account at 38.1 percent (42 percent in 2013).

Directors still remained worried Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance may not respond in the event where a claim is needed to be made.

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